"It was pretty nice of him to say that (earlier this week), but at the same time, we all work together in the red zone, to be honest with you," Gonzales said.

Nonetheless, guru status has been bestowed upon Gonzales by the head coach. The title definitely seems to fit. Gonzales is responsible for drawing up Florida's weekly offensive red-zone game plans, and the Gators have been almost flawless in the scoring zone (25-yard line and in) through four games this season.

In 26 trips to the red zone, the Gators have scored 24 times — and 21 of those scores have been touchdowns.

It's guru-type stuff for the man behind the plan.

"We actually made (Gonzales in charge of the red zone offense) two years ago," Meyer said. "We put one guy (in charge) instead of every week redesigning our passing game down there.

"(Offensive coordinator) Dan Mullen and I discussed it and said, ‘Look, Billy, come in every week and study it because everybody plays (defense) a little different and it's a unique part of the field and we better be real good at it.’ He's done a nice job with that part of it."

Gonzales said much of the credit should go to veteran secondary coach Chuck Heater. Gonzales said the weekly red-zone packages he and running backs coach Stan Drayton come up with are based largely on input from Heater and the defensive coaching staff.

"We get together with Coach Heater and we study our defense and what it does (in the red zone)," Gonzales said. "When you have the opportunity to learn about defensive play and defensive style of goal-line and red-zone coverages. ... it's great when you can go right next door and learn from the best. Coach Heater has been unbelievably helpful.

"I go straight to Chuck. He's been such a great help to all of us."

Gonzales said this season's red-zone success can be traced to a UF coaches retreat this past summer, where Gonzales and the offensive coaches spent a great deal of time with Heater and the defensive coaches poring over red zone tendencies and techniques.

"That was a big emphasis for us as a staff," Gonzales said. "Not just as an offense, but as a staff — red zone defense to help the entire offense out as far as what we need to do to improve our red-zone attack."

The group effort has also helped make UF's red-zone defense a strength, Meyer said. The Gators have given up only four touchdowns out of the 15 times opponents have been in the red zone this season.

Gonzales said he and Drayton break down opposing red-zone defenses every Sunday and develop a game plan by the start of practice on Monday. Then, on Wednesday, there is a heavy emphasis on red-zone preparation in practice.

"We get together and each branch of the offense breaks down what (opposing defenses) do in the red zone and then put it on the board," Gonzales said. "We put down what they do, what they're playing from a certain yard in and we break it down by increments from certain yard makers. It's going to change from week to week based on the defense.

"The defense might structure their defensive calls to play a certain coverage based on depth of offense when they reach a certain yard line. We break down the point where they want to completely change the style of defense that they feel comfortable playing in the red zone. We break it down on what we want to do based on what they're giving us."

By the time Saturday rolls around, the Gators feel they have a pretty good idea what has a chance to work inside the 25-yard line.

"Coach Gonzales does a good job with the coaches putting the game plan in, looking at the defense in the red zone and being able to scheme up teams very well," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "It's very important. When you get in the red zone and can't score, you're not going to be very successful.

"It's something we focus on a lot, scoring in the red zone, not just field goals but touchdowns. The coaches do a great job with it. We're confident with our plan that it's going to succeed and we're confident (the coaches) are going to call a great play."

Because defenses have less ground to defend the deeper an offense penetrates the red zone, some creative play calling is sometimes necessary.

"It all depends," Gonzales said. "Every defense is going to be a little different in how they play it. Some will bring no deep (in the secondary) and blitz you like crazy. Some teams will choose to go in a goal-line seven look, with seven men across the board in zone coverage concept. It all changes from week to week. With each coverage, a team might play it a little different than the last time.

"We get together and say, ‘This is how they're playing us this week and these are the routes we suggest.’ Then we put it on the board and talk through it. We put a lot of time into it."

It's time well spent, apparently. The Gators are getting into the end zone and Gonzales has earned a new title.

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